Reduce your risk of dementia by engaging in this easy daily practice.
The greatest exercise to reduce your risk of dementia has been identified by recent research, and it’s a short and simple routine that improves memory and learning.
Regular exercise has long been advised when it comes to maintaining our overall health because it may help with anything from improving mental health to helping us maintain our weight.
However, recent studies have shown that a specific kind of exercise that doesn’t require any additional equipment may be the secret to significantly lowering your risk of dementia.
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have found that high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, can both prevent dementia from developing and enhance brain function.
HIIT, which consists of multiple brief bursts of high-intensity exercise interspersed with short recovery intervals, has been demonstrated to improve participants’ brain function;
participants between the ages of 65 and 85 benefited most from the study.
According to the NHS, 1 in 11 adults over 65 has dementia, and there are over 944,000 dementia sufferers in the UK. For those who are affected, this new discovery could be a game-changer.
According to NewsWeek, the study examined three distinct six-month exercise regimens: low intensity (LIT), medium intensity (MIT),
and high intensity interval training (HIIT) and included 151 people who were 65 to 85 years old and did not have any cognitive impairments.
Each participant completed 72 distinct exercise sessions spaced six months apart, in addition to monthly blood and cognitive testing for five years.
To keep an eye on any alterations to the brain throughout this prolonged time, routine MRI examinations were also conducted.
Only the HIIT group shown improvement in learning and memory after six months; in fact, brain scans indicated that HIIT also prevented the normal age-related atrophy of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.
To add to the benefits, the patients’ blood work revealed improved levels of several proteins and hormones related to brain function after their exercise regimen.
Based on the results, the study came to the conclusion that brain-sharpening workouts like burpees, jumping jacks, and mountain climbers can potentially prolong cognitive function for up to five years!
